Law enforcement officers in Yonkers are cracking down on owners who don’t pick up after their pets, giving out thousands of dollars worth of fines.<\/p>\n
A law requiring dog owners to pick up pet waste has been on the books for years, but the city is getting serious about enforcing it.<\/p>\n
Police are responding to complaints and requiring owners to have the means, such as bags, to remove waste.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s kind of a minefield,” one resident said.<\/p>\n
“You kinda of have to dodge it,” another said.<\/p>\n
The city is requiring pet owners to have the means, such as bags, to remove waste. They are boosting fines for multiple offenses to as much as $5,000.<\/p>\n
Code enforcement officers can also ticket property owners who allow waste to accumulate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Video shows man getting ticketed<\/p>\n
The Yonkers Police Department recently posted a video on social media<\/a>, showing an officer ticketing a dog owner who failed to clean up.<\/p>\n “Your dog just used the bathroom, right? You know you have to pick it up,” the officer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The man said he didn’t have a bag on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n “When dogs use the bathroom like that, it attracts rats and a whole bunch of other problems,” the officer told him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yonkers police said they don’t anticipate writing a ton of tickets. They generally have to witness the act in progress in order to write one.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dog owner Lavese Gilchrist said it’s a little sad that cops have to police pet owners.<\/p>\n “They should just clean up after their dogs,” she said. “They have bags everywhere, every corner, especially down here.”<\/p>\n The city has installed many waste bag dispensers and hopes the message about canine courtesy reaches pet owners.\u00a0<\/p>\n NYC Council introduces resolution to keep streets clean<\/p>\n The New York City Council recently introduced new legislation<\/a> to get dog owners to clean up after their pets.<\/p>\n The “Scoop Act” would direct the city’s Department of Sanitation to install and fill bag dispensers on garbage cans with a sign above it saying owners need to pick up the waste.<\/p>\n The resolution came two months after city officials saw a spike in complaints<\/a> about dog poop. In the city, it’s illegal not to pick up after your dog and could cost you a $250 fine. <\/p>\n \n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n